Stellenbosch University has welcomed a new intellectual heavyweight to its Faculty of Law. Prof Tshepo Madlingozi, a current Human Rights Commissioner and renowned scholar-activist, has officially been appointed as an extraordinary professor at the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).
His arrival coincides with a year of heavy symbolic weight for South Africa—the 30th anniversary of the Constitution, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and the GEAR policy. For Madlingozi, these aren’t just dates; they are a call to “critical bifocal reflection.”
The Vision: Horizontal Accountability
While most constitutional work focuses on vertical accountability (holding the State responsible), Madlingozi’s work at the CSJ will shift the gaze toward horizontal justice.
“Big business and private actors are sometimes even more powerful than the state,” Madlingozi notes.
His mission is to ensure that constitutional promises extend to corporations—whether they are polluting the environment, displacing communities, or spreading misinformation through technology.
Why Stellenbosch?
Madlingozi’s decision to join SU was a deliberate choice to engage with an institution undergoing a “serious effort at self-examination.” He sees the establishment of the CSJ and the Stellenbosch Centre of Critical and Creative Thought as evidence of a university that is ready to be truthful about its history while moving forward together.
| Key Focus Area | Description |
| Intergenerational Dialogue | Bridging the gap between veteran activists and the disillusioned youth. |
| Decolonisation | Actively working to stop the transfer of “knowledge in the blood” (intergenerational prejudice). |
| Corporate Responsibility | Holding private power to the same human rights standards as the government. |
Hope as a Discipline
His name, Tshepo, means hope, while Madlingozi means “one who eats danger.” It is this combination of critical optimism and resilience that he brings to the CSJ.
Prof Thuli Madonsela, Director of the CSJ, expressed her excitement at the appointment: “Prof Madlingozi is an authoritative voice on social justice. The Law Faculty and SU stand to benefit immensely from his distinct intellectual capacity in service of society.”
